The Osceola times., 1887-10-08
PARIS PICKPOCKETS.
Interesting Statements of an Ex-
Chief of Detectives.
The Systematic Training Necessary to .
Successful Career of Thieving--some
OF the Most Ingenious Ruscs
rracticca.

The most interesting book thN has
recently appeared in Paris is "Un Joli
Monde written byM Mace. NJ. Mace
for many years and until eighteen
months ago was the chief of the Paris
detective police. His book is devoted
10 the scamy side of Partisan life, that
would naturally fall under the observa-
lion of man in that place. Perhaps
one of The most interesting chapters is
that entitled "Pickpockets and Pick
pockcttes.n from which the Times
translates the following:
"Apropos of the pickpockets, there
are professors that make business of
teaching that kind of robbery. Special
schools exist where boys that ought 10
be at play with their hoops and tops
are initiated into all the secrets of this
art. After few lessons their profes-
sors' require them to undergo practical
examinations on manikin. This
mauikin, dressed like a man and COW
cred with little bells, is suspended
from tho ceiling by wire so that at
the least contact the bells are set to
ingling. A boy is considered ready to
work a crowd when. time and again,
be can take purse or pocket-book
from the pocket of the manikin with
ous ringing n single bell.
"lhe true pickpockct is not vulgar
rascal, and you will be astonished 10
learn that many Of them have an cstab-
lshed social position. Some OF them
are the keepers of cafes, jewellers, to-
bacconists, aud all of them have the
appearance of honest tradesmen and
respectable people. The English pick
pocket is the best known-he is seen
everywhere but he is not the most
clever. He has in some way acquired
reputation that he does not merit.
lie is stif, constrained in his
movements, and exhibits in his
calling n good deal of the national
phlegm. lie is nm indcfatigable
walker, and the police agents who fol-
low him up to catch him in the act re-
turn in a state of exhaustion. Sly rs
serpent, he never yields TO any dan
gerous temptation. He never remains
IN one crowd longer than ten minutes,
and generally contents himself with
orc victim AZ place. He is most at
home at the races, but even there
never forgets the rules Of prudence
That guide him elsewhere. The fever
OF betting renders the crowd careless.
Bets are maze. and the horses start,
followed by n thousand anxious eyes.
Around they go. Now they draw near
the wire. The crowd bursts into an
uproar; an instant later the air is filled
with the mingled cries of triumph for
inc winners and the sullen roar Of dis
appointment of the losers Tho only
man in the crowd who escapes the gem
erai excitement is the pickpockct. His
iacc is calm, his head is cool. and his
oody, almost glued to that of his vic
uhl s. IS motionless. His hands alone
are busy, and in brief space he has
gathered in an abundant harvest.
"mle he is thus engaged his accom-
plice' surround him. each having q
particular role assigned to him in ad-
vance When q rich betting man
makes his way 10 bookmaker, some
oi these accompllces crowd in before
MN while others push him forward
from behind. He is jostled and ell
oowed by these rogues, whom he takes
20 be betting men like himself. and
"heh he emerges from the crowd hc
mas left his pocket-book in the hands Of
ne operator, who has otfsiled to take
advantage of his opportunities. The
oooty passes from hand to hand 10 the
a ms accosnpiicc. who Is generally the
!. . sashser q ~ bana. Ths xaoh tatsn,